The judge made the order and remanded both defendants in custody, to appear in court again on February 13.

Kenneth Cummins, wearing a purple striped shirt and dark jeans and Sabrina Cummins, in a blue denim jacket, black top and leggings, did not address the court during the brief hearing.

Previously, Garda Bryan Hunt told the court he arrested Kenneth Cummins at 2.58pm at Old Cabra Road on January 8 and brought him to Irishtown Garda Station. He was detained and made no reply to the charge after caution.

Dert Gda David Wogan said he arrested Sabrina Cummins at 2.49pm at Cabra Cross on January 8 and she also made no reply when charged at Donnybrook Garda Station.

Judge Walsh also previously directed that the siblings are to receive medical attention while they are in custody.

Mr Horan's body was found on the floor of his bedroom at around 4am on Monday, January 6. He had been living in the Cambridge Court flat for more than three years.

A post-mortem by State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed that he had died as a result of internal injuries.

Originally from Mullingar, Mr Horan married a woman from south Dublin in the late 1970s and they settled down in Ranelagh, near where he worked as a domestic servant at the Marist Fathers regional office in Milltown.

A family source said the couple were separated but had been still in regular contact.